NFC North Dominates 2026 Season Early
Through nearly nine weeks, the division's four teams have combined for a 25-8 record, with the Bears edging the Buccaneers 27-24 on Sunday night.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Football
The NFC North posted a combined 25-8 record through nearly nine weeks of the 2026 season. On Sunday night, the Chicago Bears defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-24 after overcoming five turnovers.
Why it matters
The division's strong start puts all four teams in the playoff conversation and suggests the NFC North could match or surpass its historical performance. A Vikings loss to the Bills on Monday would move the Bears into first place.
NFC North teams are 20-3 in non-divisional games and have lost five games to one another, while the Packers sit last in the division at 6-3. Every team in the division is at least three games over .500.
The players
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a founding franchise of the National Football League and a longtime fixture in the NFC North.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are an NFC South franchise based in Florida that has competed in the NFL since 1976.
The details
The Bears won Sunday night despite committing five turnovers, extending their winning streak to four consecutive games. Vikings play the Bills Monday night, and the outcome could shift the division standings immediately.
Timeline
Sunday, November 8, 2026: Bears defeat Buccaneers 27-24; Packers and Lions also win.
Monday, November 9, 2026: Vikings face the Bills on Monday night.
Week 10, 2026: All four NFC North teams enter the playoff picture.
Season Trajectory
The NFC North's 2024 combined record of 45-23 (.662) was the division's best since 2002, and the current 25-8 start is on pace to tie that 2002 mark if the four teams lose only eight more games combined. The division has already produced at least 15 losses over the remaining season projection, making the 2026 race one of the strongest tests of depth in recent memory.
Fantasy managers rostering Bears, Vikings, Lions, or Packers players should track Monday night's Vikings-Bills game, since a result there would reshuffle the division standings. Bettors and fans following playoff math should note that the four teams' combined losses will determine whether the division matches its 2002 record.
The takeaway
The NFC North's early strength makes every divisional game a tiebreaker-level test, so teams with a few losses have little margin for error. Watching how the division trades wins and losses in the coming weeks will reveal which team has the depth to hold up.
What happens next
The Vikings face the Bills on Monday night, November 9, 2026, a game that could move the Bears into first place in the NFC North.
Further reading
For more on the season's divisional races, explore our Football coverage.
